Japan – UNIDO Safety and Hygiene Training Brings Businesses Back to Nineveh, Iraq, for the Whole Country’s Benefit

Hassan Salam and his family, like many Yazidis, were forced to leave everything behind and seek safety at a displacement camp. They left behind their thriving factory dedicated to pickling and olive production, starting anew after the turmoil. 

Despite enduring the difficulties of displacement, Hassan and his family's resilient entrepreneurial spirit persisted. Hassan said, “We worked in pickling on a simple and small scale and over time, we expanded the business and hired 10 people to work for us.”

Upon returning to their hometown of Bartella in 2017, they discovered their factory had been looted and damaged, a fate shared by many businesses in the area. Undeterred, they started over using limited resources. “When we returned after the liberation, we only found the factory building structure, so we had to start working again, even with simple means.”

With a degree and background in management, Hassan made it his goal to help the family secure everything they needed to rebuild their business. “In our work, we need many machines to reach the final product, including cutting machines, and machines for sorting olives or vegetables according to size.”

Hassan was eager to acquire the necessary equipment to revive their business. Their dedication attracted the attention of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), which has been dedicated to supporting the economic recovery of Nineveh's returning citizens through a food safety and hygiene training programme, funded by the Japanese government. The programme aimed to empower local businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs, offering expertise in workplace safety, hygiene, and marketing strategies, catering to a range of locally produced foods. The training programme was versatile enough to apply to a wide spectrum of locally produced foods, including wheat and dairy products, tahini, olive oil, and pastries.

Hassan eagerly took part in the programme, as it was held in Bartella, his hometown. The insights gained aligned with his goal of revitalizing the family business, which is now his full-time occupation. He said, “I was very happy when the local government in the area contacted me to register for the training. In addition to important information about hygiene and safety in the workplace, there are also methods of preserving and marketing the product.”

One pivotal aspect of the programme was securing Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) certification. The internationally recognized certification is essential for maintaining food safety, ensuring regulatory compliance, and protecting both consumers and businesses.The certification enhanced his and his team's awareness of contamination risks and provided confidence during routine inspections by authorities. “Some customers would like to purchase directly from the factory, and it is very important that they see the process of production and the cleanliness of the process line and the practices of the workers. We now feel more confident when we are inspected routinely by the authorities.”

Nineveh was once considered the breadbasket of Iraq, given its fertile land and history of abundant agriculture production. Positioning his factory as a contributor to Iraq's food ecosystem and economic growth, Hassan emphasized their collaboration with local farmers, acquiring raw materials and uplifting neighbouring communities: “We acquire our raw vegetables and olives from local farmers and pickle them in several stages. We are happy to assist the local farmers who supply us, mostly from the neighbouring communities.”

Japan and UNIDO further supported Hassan's factory by providing essential machinery, streamlining processes and enhancing efficiency, such as a laser printing device for expiration date labels. “Previously, we used to put the expiration date on the plastic containers manually, and this took time and effort, especially when we had an urgent order in large quantities. The device makes the process fast.”

Hassan, a newlywed, is committed to expanding their market outreach, with aspirations to eventually export products to neighbouring countries. His dedication, combined with the support from Japan and UNIDO, paints a hopeful picture for revitalizing economic prosperity in the region: “The local market is not the only goal. Although we are reaching several governorates such as Nineveh, Erbil, Duhok and Kirkuk, we hope to reach the whole country. We also aspire to export products to neighbouring countries.”